Isaac Samuel
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected calls for the resignation of its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, describing the demands as politically motivated and legally unfounded.
The Commission also addressed misconceptions surrounding the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, in a statement on Thursday, said the Commission’s leadership is strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and cannot be removed at the behest of any political party or interest group.
The call for Amupitan’s resignation came on Thursday from leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following INEC’s decision to derecognise the party’s national leadership.
The demand coincided with a high-profile meeting of opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja to address the crisis within the party.
Also in attendance were ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, John Odigie-Oyegun, Ralph Nwosu, and Kashim Imam, among others. Speaking to journalists, Mark accused INEC of siding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the Commission had compromised its neutrality.
“We demand the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, and all the National Commissioners. We no longer have confidence in them. We are convinced they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” Mark said.
INEC had on Wednesday announced that it would no longer recognise Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s national chairman and secretary, respectively, along with other members of the National Working Committee, pending the outcome of a leadership dispute before the courts.
Oketola explained that INEC’s compliance with a recent Court of Appeal judgment regarding the ADC was necessary to avoid legal complications similar to those witnessed in Zamfara and Plateau States, where disobedience of court judgments led to the removal of elected officials.
He stressed that the Commission acted strictly within the law and followed court orders that prevent it from monitoring certain party congresses while related cases are pending at the Federal High Court.
The Commission also clarified that updates to party leadership records, including the recognition of David Mark-led ADC executives in September 2025, were conducted in strict compliance with court orders and statutory requirements.
INEC further noted that it has actively expanded Nigeria’s democratic space, citing the registration of three new political parties—the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and the National Democratic Party (NDP)—bringing the total number of active parties to 22.
“While the Commission recognises the right of stakeholders to express their views, it is imperative to clarify that INEC is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Chairman does not hold office at the pleasure of any political party or interest group.
Any call for removal outside the established constitutional process is not only a distraction but a direct assault on the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire,” Oketola said.
Addressing concerns about the nationwide voter revalidation exercise, Oketola said the initiative predates Professor Amupitan’s tenure and is aimed at strengthening the integrity of the National Register of Voters.
“The exercise is an administrative audit designed to update voter information, address multiple registrations, remove deceased persons, and enhance data reliability. It is uniform, non-discriminatory, and not targeted at any region, party, or demographic,” he added.
